clearly

Clearly is an adverb derived from the adjective clear. It conveys that something is in a clear, understandable, or obvious way. The term can indicate how something is done (manner), the perceived transparency or visibility of something (degree), or a speaker’s stance toward what follows (sentence adverb). The -ly suffix is the standard English marker for adverbs, and clearly has been in common use since Middle English, formed from clear and the adverbial suffix.

In usage, clearly can modify verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses. Examples include: “She spoke clearly,” “The handwriting is clearly legible,” and “Clearly, this plan will fail unless changes are made.” As a sentence adverb, clearly can precede or follow the main clause to signal the speaker’s assessment: “Clearly, we underestimated the task” or “We must, clearly, rethink our approach.” It often introduces a justification or evaluation that the speaker believes the audience will recognize as obvious.

Common synonyms include obviously, evidently, plainly, and transparently, while antonyms include unclearly and obscurely. While versatile, clearly should be used judiciously; overuse can imply a sense of condescension, and in some contexts may express bias about what the audience should find obvious. In formal writing, placement with commas when used as a sentence adverb helps avoid ambiguity.

See also: clarity, clarify, clear.